Name:
Dr Courtney Kloske
Job title:
Associate Director of Science Engagement and Outreach
Place of work / study:
Area of Research:
Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease
Tell us a little about yourself:
After completing her PhD at The University of Kentucky in Sanders-Brown Centre on Ageing in Dr. Donna Wilcock’s lab, Courtney joined the Alzheimer’s Association as the Associate Director of Science Engagement and Outreach. During her PhD Courtney studies how genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease can impact the inflammatory profile using human autopsy tissue and animal models.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I was a dancer for 16 years and a competitive dancer for about 10 years!
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
In undergrad, I was involved with a group that’s major philanthropy was the Alzheimer’s Association. Through this, I saw how Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias impacted so many of my close friends and how we came together to raise money for dementia. I knew the main way I could give back to this disease was through research so when I started graduate school, I found a lab focused on Alzheimer’s disease. Also, in graduate school, the Alzheimer’s Association has been instrumental in helping me take my passion for Alzheimer’s disease and translating that off of the bench through working to increase funding for research and care as well as helping to inform the community about dementia. I think seeing people around me so directly impacted by this disease and then being able to help in so many ways has been why I chose to work in the dementia field and why I never plan on leaving this field!